hi was lookinf for some feedback on new england fire arms hani rifles. marlin owns them so quality should be good...heard someone say they were getting sub moa at 100yds with same model in 223 or 243. they are really low priced in shotgun news, 160.00 for walnut. was thinking 45-70 single shot would be nice to own. just wondering if they were junk.

I have one. Stainless steel heavy barrel, wood stock. Shoots like a house on fire. I have one in .308 on order. I know of 5 others who own one and they all say that theirs shoots the same as mine.

I own an NEF 45-70. Love it.
It shoots right at MOA with factory Winchester 300 gr. loads.
Recoil with the factory loads isn't bad at all, probably about the same as 270.
I took my first animal with it in October. A small 8 pt. whitetail in SC. Really no contest, he was walking along at about 20 yards. Shot was heart/lung. He ran about 35 yards.
I'd definitely say get one.
Ken

I've got one in .223 so you'll have to go to the small bore section to see how it does.

I bought mine the first year they came out - '87 or '88?

Shoots sub-quarter minute groups with several factory loads and several handloads. The trigger is fantastic.

My brother has a new one and the trigger is awful. Sending it back to NEF to get tuned.

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The older I get the better I was.

I have had 2. One in 30-30 with a 20 ga accessory barrel made by H&R and a 45-70 made by NEF. Both were accurate guns. I restocked mine with nice walnut and they even looked good. The 45-70 was usually fed 385 or 392 cast lead and 67 gr of Ffg. It would group this load into about 1 7/8 for 5 shots with the last 4 going into 3/4 after it fouled.

Holdson4,

My friend has one in 450 Marlin and the thing is super accurate. Sub -sub MOA which is tough to measure with .458 holes - hehehehe.

Not too much recoil either. It weighs a ton. I was really suprised at the weight of the gun.

I've been thinking about getting one as well.

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Speak softly and carry a really big MAGNUM.

Regards,

Mark

I have 2 of them,one in 45-70 that thinks it`s a bench gun,has three 5 shot groups in the .10`s with a 405gr cast hpfb over a good dose of accurate 2495,also shoots everything from 330gr cast with 12gr red dot,to heavy loads very well.My 223 hasn`t been as nice to me,no groups under 1" with anything tried yet,will probably fire-lap it soon as I did with the 45-70,I only used J.B. cleaning paste to do it but it did wonders.Good shooting.

I also have one with the heavy stainless steel barrel in .223 and it shoots. I have been trying to get one in .308 and can't seem to find one. A lot of my co-workers have one and they all say that their's shoot very well.

I share similar, and probably more, experiences with BigBelly. My .223, heavy barrel won't shoot close to an inch, has a very heavy trigger and I MUST FL SIZE ALL CASES IF I WANT THEM TO EJECT. I carry a cleaning rod to knock out the cases. I have seen many posters on NEF forums with the same problem, and the instructions that come with the gun SPECIFY FL SIZED CASES. However, a friend gave me a box of Winchester, 55gr. loaded ammunition (white box) and it shot better than any handload I've developed so far. Go figure!!

Bigbelly and BEJ yall gotta try the Winchester factory 46 grain JHP ammo. 40 round varmint pack white and red box. Goes for about $12/box. Rated at 3600fps, I havent chronoed it yet but it groups extremely well outa my 24" hb ultra. My trigger needs some work too but It doesnt bother me too aweful much with this barrel or the 26" .280. I havent come up with a handload yet that will better the Win. factory stuff.
Dave

I had one in 223 that shots MOA, I also had the usual single shot case wont eject situation occur. I found that a regular good chamber cleaning was the best cure but I bought the gun used and it also had a slightly worn firing pin hole and so there were cratered primers. Nice gun otherwise though, Id like to get another. You guys do know that NEF will sell additional barrels for these guns right? Just send in your reciever and forearm and they do add ons in any chamber they have. Very affordable way to expand your battery.

My .223 also locks up due to cratered primers when I have used factory loads,all of my handloads are milder so to avoid this,I dis-assembled my trigger parts and lightly honed the surfaces,then let warm in the sun and spray with lyman super moly.This has helped on both of my rifles.After 3000+ rounds (marlin eq. or less) my 45-70 is starting to loosen up,still shoots super accurate but now an occaisional mis-fire,don`t want to send it in but may have to.any thoughts?